Letter 6023: **From:** Ennodius, deacon of Pavia

**From:** Ennodius, deacon of Pavia **To:** Parthenius, his nephew, a young man newly arrived at a city renowned for its schools **Date:** ~507–512 AD **Context:** Ennodius responds to his nephew's first serious piece of writing, balancing honest literary criticism with extravagant encouragement — and warning him, with characteristic urgency, about the company he keeps. --- Under God's auspices, may the first stirrings of your devotion grow strong. May He who gives studies their vigor be present to the desires we share. You have announced, through the brightness of your writing, that you have already made your home in a city well disposed toward the liberal arts. At the very threshold you have sent ahead something that surpasses even the greedy hopes of parents. I am no harsh judge of your style, nor do I turn away from the slimness of what you have produced so far, when what lies ahead promises so much more. For each time we inscribe the earth with the plowshare, the spirit rises on the hope of the harvest to come; the lover of the plow always reads the riches of the grain-ear in the tender shoots; the diligent farmer, while the fruit is still pale and unripe, is already measuring in his mind the abundance of the harvest. Let adversity withdraw, and let whatever sins bring in their train depart likewise. The current of your little oration, I will say, does not yet hold its own in the full gleam of eloquence — but it shone with the authentic flavor of a Latin vein. The prose flowed without harshness, though it still needs to be deepened and enlarged by the wealth of wider reading. But then again — why do I presume to speak at all, like a goose honking after swans, when you have already told me that so great a judge has lent his ears to your composition and found it pleasing? Whatever has satisfied *him* may enter the arena of criticism with confidence; eloquence praised by such a man has the power to win favor even from its enemies. Work, then, so that a fortunate outcome may crown what has so well begun. Give yourself without pause to the service of honorable men. Those who would contaminate you with their company — flee them like a cup of poison, out of the respect you owe to my counsel. And keep me always informed of your progress in writing, for my eagerness to know it never rests. As for the rest: farewell, and — upheld by all the aids of heavenly grace — answer the claims of your household from the harvest of your learning.

XXIII. ENNODIVS PARTENIO. Deo auspice dilectionis tuae primordia conualescant: adsit desideriis communibus per quem uires studia sortiuntur. declarasti te scriptionis luce urbem amicam liberalibus studiis iam tenere: praemisisti in foribus quod auara parentum uota superaret. non sum dictionis tuae rigidus aestimator nec respuo tenuitatem praesentium, cui secutura blandiuntur. quotiens uomeribus terram scribimus, animus de spe uenturae frugis eleuatur: semper de herbis aristarum diuitias amicus arationis intellegit: diligens rusticandi adhuc in cano frugis pomorum populos iam metitur. facessat aduersitas et quicquid pariunt peccata discedat, ductus mihi oratiunculae tuae etsi eloquentiae nitore non subsistit, Latiaris tamen uenae sapore radiauit: fluxit sermo non absonus, lectionis tamen opibus ampliandus. sed quid ego post tantum iudicem, cuius auribus operis tui concinnationem placere signasti, quasi post olores anser strepui? illi quicumque placuit examen securus ingreditur: facundia ab illo praedicata praeualet fauorem etiam ab inimicis exigere. labora ergo, ut felix bene coepta euentus extollat, honestorum te obsequiis indesinenter inpende: eos qui consortio te suo polluunt debens monitis nostris reuerentiam uelut ueneni poculum fuge: profectum tuum paginis scire cupido semper 1 uoJ: non patitur LTV 2 ualete om. Bb XXIIL 4 partinio Bb, paternio L 5 conualrtcant L 11 scribemns B, scindimus b et 8. l. m. rec. B 12 eleuatur V in ras . arationis scripsi, rationis BLTV, nationis b, sationis coni. Schottus 13 //// rusticandi L, rustigandi B 14 populos SchottfM et Sirm., populus BLTVb (us in T corr.) 16 eloquentiae (el in ras.) \'B 16 «latiaris L 17 noa-ampliandus om. B add. in mg. corr . absonis L\' 19 concinnationem operis tui LTV resignasti fort . 20 ouicamque com. Schottus facondia T1 21 faborem B 22 cepta T 23 te scripsi, se LTV, om. B b 24 debens (s ex t fort. corr.) L, debetis coni. Schottus ne ueni B adnuntia. quod superest, uale et omnibus superni fauoris iutus auxiliis familiae tuae de peritiae messe responde.